US6617731B1ExpiredUtility

Rotary pump with bearing wear indicator

85
Assignee: BUFFALO PUMPS INCPriority: Jun 5, 2002Filed: Jun 5, 2002Granted: Sep 9, 2003
Est. expiryJun 5, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Douglas J. GoodnickPatrick R. LinehanJoseph D. Reasinger
F16C 17/10F16C 17/24F04D 29/0413F04D 29/047F04C 29/00
85
PatentIndex Score
42
Cited by
21
References
34
Claims

Abstract

A rotary pump for liquid having a housing, a shaft carrying a motor rotor, a motor stator fixed in the housing and surrounding the rotor to rotate the rotor and shaft about an axis. The shaft is mounted in the pump housing by axially spaced conical bearings, each bearing including a first element fixed on the shaft with a first conical bearing surface concentric with the axis, a coacting second element carried by the housing with a second conical bearing surface concentric with the axis and slidably engaging the first bearing surface and a spring forcing the elements together. This pump includes a wear indicator comprising: a first drive member on the shaft, an imbalance member carried with the second element of a bearing with a second drive member aligned with the first member and movable axially toward the first drive member as the bearing surfaces wear so the first and second drive members engage when the imbalance member moves axially a given distance. A sensor detects vibrations caused by rotation of the imbalance member by the shaft.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
Having thus defined the invention, the following is claimed:  
     
       1. A rotary pump for liquid having a housing, a shaft carrying a motor rotor, a motor stator fixed in said housing and surrounding said rotor to rotate said rotor and shaft about an axis, said shaft being mounted in said housing by axially spaced conical bearings, each bearing including a first element fixed on said shaft with a first conical bearing surface concentric with said axis, a coacting second element carried by said housing with a second conical bearing surface concentric with said axis and slidably engaging said first bearing surface and a spring forcing said elements together, said pump including a wear indicator comprising: a cage attached to and movable axially with a second element of a bearing as said bearing surfaces wear, said cage surrounding said shaft and carrying an imbalance plate with an outer portion supported on said cage for free rotation in said cage and an inner portion surrounding but normally spaced from said shaft, a first drive member fixed on said shaft and a second drive member on said plate and axially aligned with said first drive member so said members engage when said cage moves axially a given distance whereby said imbalance plate is rotated in said cage by said shaft. 
     
     
       2. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 1  wherein said given distance is ¼-⅛ inches. 
     
     
       3. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 2  including a vibration detector mounted on said housing. 
     
     
       4. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 3  wherein said first drive member is the tapered nose of a sleeve mounted on said shaft and said second drive member is a tapered opening in said imbalance plate and surrounding said tapered nose. 
     
     
       5. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 4  wherein said imbalance plate is a ring with a substantially difference of mass at circumferentially spaced areas. 
     
     
       6. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 3  wherein said imbalance plate is a ring with a substantially difference of mass at circumferentially spaced areas. 
     
     
       7. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 3  wherein said cage is forced against said second element by said spring. 
     
     
       8. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 2  wherein said first drive member is the tapered nose of a sleeve mounted on said shaft and said second drive member is a tapered opening in said imbalance plate and surrounding said tapered nose. 
     
     
       9. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 8  wherein said imbalance plate is a ring with a substantially difference of mass at circumferentially spaced areas. 
     
     
       10. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 2  wherein said imbalance plate is a ring with a substantially difference of mass at circumferentially spaced areas. 
     
     
       11. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 2  wherein said cage is forced against said second element by said spring. 
     
     
       12. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 1  including a vibration detector mounted on said housing. 
     
     
       13. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 12  wherein said first drive member is the tapered nose of a sleeve mounted on said shaft and said second drive member is a tapered opening in said imbalance plate and surrounding said tapered nose. 
     
     
       14. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 13  wherein said imbalance plate is a ring with a substantially difference of mass at circumferentially spaced areas. 
     
     
       15. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 12  wherein said imbalance plate is a ring with a substantially difference of mass at circumferentially spaced areas. 
     
     
       16. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 12  wherein said cage is forced against said second element by said spring. 
     
     
       17. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first drive member is the tapered nose of a sleeve mounted on said shaft and said second drive member is a tapered opening in said imbalance plate and surrounding said tapered nose. 
     
     
       18. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 17  wherein said imbalance plate is a ring with a substantially difference of mass at circumferentially spaced areas. 
     
     
       19. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 17  wherein said cage is forced against said second element by said spring. 
     
     
       20. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 1  wherein said imbalance plate is a ring with a substantially difference of mass at circumferentially spaced areas. 
     
     
       21. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 20  wherein said cage is forced against said second element by said spring. 
     
     
       22. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 1  wherein said cage is forced against said second element by said spring. 
     
     
       23. A rotary pump for liquid having a housing, a shaft carrying a motor rotor, a motor stator fixed in said housing and surrounding said rotor to rotate said rotor and shaft about an axis, said shaft being mounted in said housing by axially spaced conical bearings, each bearing including a first element fixed on said shaft with a first conical bearing surface concentric with said axis, a coacting second element carried by said housing with a second conical bearing surface concentric with said axis and slidably engaging said first bearing surface and a spring forcing said elements together, said pump including a wear indicator comprising: a first drive member on said shaft, an imbalance member carried with said second element of a bearing with a second drive member aligned with said first member and movable axially toward said first drive member as said bearing surfaces wear so said first and second drive members engage when said imbalance member moves axially a given distance and a sensor to detect vibrations caused by rotation of said imbalance member by said shaft. 
     
     
       24. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 23  wherein said given distance is ¼-⅛ inches. 
     
     
       25. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 24  wherein said first drive member is the tapered nose of a sleeve mounted on said shaft and said second drive member is a tapered opening in said imbalance member and surrounding said tapered nose. 
     
     
       26. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 25  wherein said imbalance member is rotatably carried in a cage forced against said first member by said spring. 
     
     
       27. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 24  wherein said imbalance member is rotatably carried in a cage forced against said first member by said spring. 
     
     
       28. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 24  wherein said pump includes a liquid seal between said stator and said rotor with liquid immersing said rotor. 
     
     
       29. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 23  wherein said first drive member is the tapered nose of a sleeve mounted on said shaft and said second drive member is a tapered opening in said imbalance member and surrounding said tapered nose. 
     
     
       30. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 29  wherein said imbalance member is rotatably carried in a cage forced against said first member by said spring. 
     
     
       31. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 29  wherein said pump includes a liquid seal between said stator and said rotor with liquid immersing said rotor. 
     
     
       32. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 23  wherein said imbalance member is rotatably carried in a cage forced against said first member by said spring. 
     
     
       33. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 32  wherein said pump includes a liquid seal between said stator and said rotor with liquid immersing said rotor. 
     
     
       34. A rotary pump as defined in  claim 23  wherein said pump includes a liquid seal between said stator and said rotor with liquid immersing said rotor.

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